Monday, April 23, 2007

For everyone that checks in periodically, the guilt was overwhelming, I was feeling bad that there wasn't a shred of anything new for you to read on my blog for weeks.

I am loving my retirement--at last--even though I officially retired on April 5th, I had been working at home on a 73 page instruction manual (along with samples and examples), a job description and an annual report that had been on my desk since early January. Last Thursday my beloved took the works to church and gave it to the Pastor. Whew, now it's official. No more work-yippee. I tidied up my office, and now it once again belongs to me, all me.

Between post-work, we had a lovely visit with my Aunty Myrtle from Winnipeg, Mom and she came to dinner last Thursday. My wonderful Aunty regailed us with stories about the family I know so little about. When I was almost 2 we moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver, so our family missed out on alot. It was wonderful to hear the stories of my Nanny and Pappa, and my cousins, aunties and uncles.

On the previous Monday, we travelled to Ladner to get a preview look at April and Nick and Abby's new homestead. They are going to be so very happy there, I can picture it already. And April, if you are reading this, I found the sewing machine, daddy didn't put it in the crawlspace afterall :)! And since we are retired, my beloved and I decided that we could do with only one car, so after April and Nick's we travelled into Vancouver to Amy and Tyler's. She is now the proud (we hope) new owner of her daddy's Acura. Happy Driving my darling!

And then the biggie of all biggies, Cathy and Cliff moved on Saturday. We took the Fab-5 for the day. We moved the dining room table into my office--off the carpet and onto wipeable flooring--my idea, which if I may say so, worked like a charm, moved all ornaments and the like, and entertained and fed them for the day. It was a wonderful day, but we were deliriously tired when they went home. We put our place back in order and went over to see the new digs-one word-awesome! After that, I volunteered to go to the old place to do a bit of tidying up. That daughter of mine is amazing, there was hardly anything to do. And let me tell you, hardly a mark on any wall. How'd she do that? You should have seen our walls when our three were little, all you could see were spots for as high as their little hands could reach!

I must admit by the time we got home, we crashed right into bed, got up the next day to go to Church, came home for lunch, had a walk in the sunshine and then crashed, crashed, crashed. I'm feeling it, I'm 60!

Tomorrow, April and Abby will entertain both me and Aunty Amy. April tells me to pack my walking shoes, uh oh! Sounds like another busy day, I'd better get some beauty sleep.

Well dear readers, nothing too exciting from our vantage point, but our darling daughter's 3 made up for it.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Today being my official first day of retirement as I only worked Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays, I had my alarm clock on --can you believe it?--so that we would wake up early enough to get over to Cathy and Cliff's so that they could sign their life away....anyhow, I digress, so listening to my favourite CBC Radio station this morning I heard about the neatest thing, especially if you were a teen in the 80s. That has to have been the longest sentence yet!

Anyway, Margaret Gallagher has this weekly spot on the radio and she talked about an 80s karaoke singalong. It is held the first Monday of the month at the Railway Club. Apparently tons and tons of people show up for this monthly event. They only play and sing 80s songs, like: You've gotta fight--for your right--to Par-Tay! Come on you children of the 80s, I know you know this one, because even I do! This was probably the only song I recognized, but I said to myself, I said, I'd love to do something like that. Come on Railway Club, don't forget about we children of the 60s! Apparently there is a TV show on CBC on at/or about 12:00 or 1:00 p.m. with the name "Vancouver" in it, and they are going to have a little blurb on TV. So if you want to know more, find out the name of the show, and tape it! Or, if you are like me, retired, and want to know more, watch CBC TV all day until the show comes on! Gee I wonder of Sesame Street and Mr. Dress Up still come on?

Yesterday as my beloved and I were walking in the Spring Sunshine, I happened to look down, in the gutter if you will and I noticed this disc, I read the names on it and kept going, and then something made me take 3 steps backward to pick up the disc.

On the disc was written:

Jolene and David

06.17.06

I said to my beloved, I said, this must be April and Nick's Jolene and David. My beloved said, naaa, I'm sure there are many Jolene and David's, I said, naaa, this is them! When we got home, we phoned our April and sure enough, it is "our" Jolene and David.

It so happens that this "gutter" was right beside a very well used park where softball and soccer rule. So JoJo, if you or one of your friends was at "our field" we have your/their diskette. It's a little worse for the wear, so you might have to recut a new one. And while you're at it, make one for us too! I'll bring it over to April's next time I go visit!

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Amy and Tyler had the whole lot of us over for Easter Brunch slash Birthday Celebrations slash Retirement fun and frivolity! The house was beautifully decorated by Amy and Miss "K" who made the most delightful Easter decorations.

We devoured a wonderful pot luck brunch, with delicious homemade place settings for everyone. We watched a slide show from Thailand, including a hilarious video of Tyler and Amy driving on a little scooter type thing in Thailand, that made us laugh so hard that I have to smile thinking about it as I'm blogging. All of this was followed up by an Easter Egg Hunt for all the little ones, known as Team Orange and Team Yellow and it didn't even rain. We had such fun getting the families together for pictures, and then we went in and had Birthday Cake from an Italian bakery. We were spoiled. We laughed. We were together.

Amy and Tyler and Miss "K" thanks for the wonderful day! That's another one in the memory banks of life.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Here it is, 11:58 p.m. on Saturday Night and these are my very last moments of being 50. I cannot believe that the big wheel has rolled by so quickly. Where did the time go? Time to fly. Time to learn. Time . . . .

And as I know you always like to read your horoscope, here is what it said in today's Vancouver Sun:

Today's Birthday (April 7) Apply your will with disipline and focus and your goals come together in record speed. People begin to admire you for your sophistication and savvy. But none of this maykes you dry--you're all smiles. Visit family in June. Singles meet a cute co-worker in September. Pisces people are attracted to you. A Taurus person is sweet and sincere.

At exactly 4:44 p.m. April Leigh made her grand appearance weighing 8 lbs. 10 oz. You should see all the fine brownish hair all over her head. She has a very round face and head and I haven't decided who she looks like. But she is a real live doll. She started talking in the delivery room. I am so tired and happy, I'll never be able to put all my feelings into words. Dick was my greatest help and inspiration and without him it would have been very difficult. He was so fantastic with the breathing. I'm very proud of him, me and of course April.

Friday, April 06, 2007

April 19736 Friday Week 14 96-269Washed two loads of Cathy's clothes and hung them out to dry. Just did the barest of necessities because I'm too tired to do anything else. Then had an hour and a half sleep. It really feels like the baby is ready to drop right out of me. Right at ten to three my water started leaking. I held off until 8:00 to phone the Doctor but nothing happened. Went right up to the case room at V.G.H. and there I stayed.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Do you remember how it was the very first day of your job? Kind of scared, not expecting too much, but then you find that this working thing isn't too bad. Well my day wasn't exactly like that.

After being cut off by a very rude, pushy and bully of a truck driver, on Highway 1, my beloved and I made our way down to my work for the very last time. That should have been a hint as to how the rest of the day would go.

As it turned out, it was a day like any other, very busy, especially in a church office on the day of Maundy Thursday. A service tonight, Good Friday service tomorrow, and two Easter Services, Sunrise service and Easter Celebration service Sunday, which translated to a church secretary, means a lot of work! What with bulletins and notes and plans to be made, I still had to clear out, which was no mean feat. Other than well wishes from all of my beautiful children, and the Pastor who on the eve of the busiest time of the church year offered yesterday to take me out to lunch, which I refused because he is so busy, nary a word from anyone in the congregation. You wouldn't have known it was mylast day. Not a word, not a card, not even a dandylion! Was I expecting too much? I don't really think that someone perhaps telephoning and wishing me well, would be too much to ask, do you? Well live and learn I always say. Just because you work in a church it doesn't mean you will always encounter "grace".

So today for me was filled with excitement, disappointment and a bit of a let down. But the good news is, I won't be working on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sundays any more! Hip Hip Hooray!

1973 AprilThursday 5Week 14 95-270Dr. Lepawksky is still really sick. I met the other Dr. filling in for him and I thought it would be him who delivered the baby. Wrongo! It's a Dr. Britton whom I've never met. I must admit I'm really depressed about this prospect. I feel really terrible because I've never met the man and already I dislike him. How's that for being a creep! As it turned out Dr. S. E. Britton turned out to be a delightful man! He had never had a set of parents-to-be who had taken the Vancouver Childbirth Association classes. He was impressed with us as it turned out. We had learned that through stage 3 labour ( I think it was stage 3), to sing a song. We chose You Are My Sunshine, and as we were singing it, he joked around saying he wished he'd brought along his guitar. I love a man with a sense of humour! It just goes to show, you can never tell.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

1973 AprilWednesdayWeek 14 94-271 4I thought for sure the Baby was coming last night! We were both so excited. By 2 a.m. everything calmed down to nothing. I was supposed to see Dr. Lepawsky today but he has the flu. I just know I'll have it now that he's sick. I must try and hold off until at least tomorrow night. We made an appointment for 3:45 just in case. Just in case we're available that is. The plumber came and put in new taps in the tub. Hooray--hot running water again.Those were the good old days when you called the landlady and she arranged and paid for the expense of a plumber, but not anymore, we call Shell Bussey's Home Time and get wonderful plumbers but they cost us the big buckos!I was very excited last night when I went to bed knowing that this was going to be my last week of work!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Tuesday 3Week 14 93-272Nothing yet, what's going on in there? My little one is too comfy in there . . .how big do you need to be? Your Big Sister was only 6 lbs. 5 1/2 oz. you must weigh about 9 lbs. by now! I'm taking you back to the Doctor again tomorrow maybe I'll know more then. Dick was home with his cold again today but he'll be back to school tomorrow. We finally decided on names. April Leigh or Eli Alexander. I sure hope we made the right choice. I hope Baby likes it.One thing I know for certain, Cathy didn't like what we were going to call her, Gregory Artur and April certainly didn't like the name Eli! And my almost 60 year old brain is thinning, so I can't recall for sure what we were going to call a boy if darling Amy hadn't arrived. I think it was Eli Alexander too if I'm not mistaken. All the way around, I am so happy that I had three beautiful daughters. We were and are blessed with three prized daughters!&&&

Because I am Lutheran I am on a site called "GraceWords". One of the contributors today was Pastor Rany Faro and he shared the following with us, and I share it with you:

You hear an old song and the face of a lost loved one suddenly appears, and in the space of the song the loved one grabs your loneliness by the collar and sends it out the door.

You stand before a painting and the peaceful landscape calls you in – or a scene of violent pain holds you in thrall – and for a minute that’s longer than eternity you enter the serenity, or you rage and grieve along with the picture’s tortured souls.

You read a piece of poetry and for the span of a minute – or an hour – you find a space to sit and listen to the sound of naked joy, or to stare into the face of unfathomable grief.

More than anything else, that’s what good art does: not answer questions or set agendas, but create space – space to laugh, to mourn, and to wonder who and how and why we are.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Well if you've read my number one daughter's blog, you know that their family is going to increase. We'll just call them the Crazy-8s now, because life around there is going to be just that. If anyone can handle 6 children it certainly is Cathy and Cliff, God Bless Them! A new little life in the making, does it get any better than that? No, it does not! Congratulations C&C, C,C,C,C, and C! I'm betting here and now, on the record, that little baby Wee-C's name will start with a C too, what do you think?

This picture was taken Last Easter, when Cathy was almost due with Caroline and April was just a wee-bit along with Miss Abby. What a difference a year makes aye my girlies?

The snow covered our upstairs skylight. I couldn't believe my eyes. As pretty as it was, because its' melted now of course, the poor cherry blossoms and daffodils took a bit of a beating.

We had lunch with our dear friends Kathy and Tom before they headed back to our favourite holiday place, Osoyoos. It was so good to see them again. Hopefully by now, they are drinking tea and looking out their front window at Osoyoos Lake.

Today I went shopping and bought some Easter Treats to put in the plastic coloured Easter eggs for the Hunt on Sunday. Can't wait to watch all the little darlings run around, all hepped up on a sugar high. Originally I was just going to buy them tee shirts but after MSNing Amy I realized that she was filling their eggs, then so should I. Several weeks ago I went to our local WallMart and found 7 orange tee shirts. I think we should take pictures of the kids wearing them before the candy don't you?

Bob's 32 today and Daddy got another cold. He took the day off so we went to the Dr's. at 11:00 a.m. instead of 3:30. The Baby's head still isn't engaged but I've dialated 3cm. He said I could have the baby by tomorrow morning but I still don't feel anything! Just in case we've made another appointment for Wednesday. I sure hope I don't need it. I'll be very happy when the Baby's born it's getting so big. It must be terribly crowded in there by now.Those were the days, when you could change your appointment at a doctor's office from one time of the day to the other. Ah the good old days!

Sunday, April 01, 2007

1973 AprilMothers Day, UK, Sunday 1Week 13 91-274It may be mothers day in the U.K., but it sure isn't here! I was hoping something would start happening but it didn't. Cathy cut her left, top, eye tooth through today, it didn't seem to bother her as much as the right one. This afternoon we went to Little Mountain for a walk. Was it ever nice out there. The only trouble is Cathy always heads for the roads instead of up on that gigantic lawn. After our little excursion we went to Harvey's for chips and soft ice cream, tch, tch.This afternoon we went to Ladner to see April, Nick and Abby, no ice cream, or chips, but good food and even better--great company! It was a lovely day. Now it's Cathy who has to keep her little band of cool cats off roads! Big wheel keeps on turning.

If you are like me, there are times when you really want to let it all hang out, and let people know just how small and insignificant you really think they are, well this would be a perfect way of showing it. Come on people you know we've all been there at one time or another.

Do you think I'm feeling liberated because I'm just about to retire? Mmmmm, there may be something to that. All those pent up years finally busting loose! Only 2 more days, hip hip hooray!

About Me

Married for 45 years to my high school sweetheart. My beloved and I have 11 Grandchildren, 3 boys and 8 girls. I love to sing them crazy songs and make up silly words as I go along but don't tell them it's because I can't remember the real words! We have three beautiful daughters and three handsome sons through choice. We are well and truly blessed.